The feast of St. Francis of Assisi is on Oct. 4, and this year it falls on a Sunday. St. Francis is the saint associated with a deep love for animals and birds, actually all of God's creation, and over the years many churches have held a Blessing of the Animals service on or near the feast day.

This year, the Chapel of the Cross is incorporating the blessing of the animals into its 9 a.m. service on Sunday.

In his monthly letter to parishioners, the Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams, rector, describes how this service will work.

"All parishioners and other prospective worshippers are encouraged to bring their pet with them to the lawn in front of the church before the 9 a.m. service. We will have chairs available, the front doors open and speakers to bring the sound from the service to the outside. We will also have student and other pet sitters available for any who wish to leave their pets and come inside.

"After the readings and the sermon, all who wish are invited to bring their pets, or pictures of them or even stuffed animals, up the center aisle to the front steps for the blessing and laying on of hands by the clergy, returning outside by way of the side aisles. Pet sitters will again be available for the rest of the communion service for any who wish."

What if it rains?

Rector's answer: "In 25 years of offering this blessing service in the courtyard, it has never rained. But if it does, bring an umbrella."

What if my pet performs some basic animal function during the procession?

Rector's answer: "One advantage of a slate floor is that any cleanup is very easy. A good test for our ushers."

Are all pets welcome?

Rector's answer: "Any pets which will be properly controlled and of no threat to anyone or any other pet is most welcome. The more exotic, the better. Recruit your friends and their farm animals. It will be a joyful thanksgiving for all God's imaginative and bountiful creation."

Holocaust survivor speaks

Keynote speaker for the fall conference of the local chapter of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), meeting Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3, at the N.C. Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, will be Eva Mozes Kor. She is a Holocaust survivor, educator and founder of the CANDLES organization and Holocaust Museum.

Kor will speak on "Ethics in Medicine and Research: Lessons from Dr. Mengele."on Friday at 8:45 a.m. This will be followed by a Meet and Greet book signing session at 10 a.m. Her book is titled, "Echoes from Auschwitz: Dr. Mengele's Twins: The Story of Eva and Miriam Mozes."

She will also speak at a public venue on the University of North Carolina campus at the MBRB building in room 202 at 12:30 p.m.

Kor, who as a twin survived the genetic experiments of the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele in the concentration camp, founded CANDLES, an acronym for "Child of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiment Survivors" in 1984.

About 1,500 sets of twins were used as human guinea pigs in the Auschwitz experiments. When Auschwitz was liberated in 1945, only about 200 children were found alive. Most of them were Mengele twins.

Those who want to hear Kor's presentation should contact LKarolak@aol.com for further details.

Series explores 'enough'

What is "enough" and how do you know when you have it?

A four-week study to think through this idea will meet on Sundays during October from 10 to 10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary at Carrboro United Methodist Church, 200 Hillsborough Road. The group will discuss Adam Hamilton's book "ENOUGH: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity."

Those who need child care to attend the study should call the church office at 942-1223. Dates are Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25.

Social justice workshop

A workshop on "Conversations Toward a Better World" will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Road in Durham.

Among the questions to be tackled are where and how social justice activities fit into one's life and what faith-based organizations can do to cultivate effective social justice activism.

Keynote speaker is Doug Muder, columnist for the Unitarian Universalist periodical UUworld. He writes and will talk about differences in worldviews about social justice. Musical inspiration will come from Greg Greenway, Cape Cod songwriter who sings folk-pop and the ballads of Phil Ochs and Woody Guthrie.

Registration fee is $5 to cover the cost of lunch. This may be mailed to Eno River Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Road, Durham 27707 or may be paid on arrival on Saturday morning. Email registration should be sent to doaustin@mindspring.com or done by calling 286-1473.

Seminar set on religion and the brain

Dr. Andrew Newberg, associate professor in the Department of Radiology and Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania will speak on "How God Changes Your Brain" during a seminar on Thursday, Oct. 1, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham.

Drawing from studies of meditation, prayer, the Rosary and a survey of spiritual experiences, his talk will consider ways in which the brain is changed by religion, with additional focus on the practical applications obtained from this data. How can spiritual practices help to enhance the brain? What practices work best for improving how the brain works? Also, the data suggests that the practice of religion has implications for improving mood and memory as well as one's spiritual self.

The seminar, sponsored by the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, is offered from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the School of Nursing Auditorium Room 1014. Lunch is provided for those who register and are included in the county.

To register or for more information, email elizabeth,alford@duke.edu or call 660-7556.

Ethical Culture change

The North Carolina Society for Ethical Culture has changed its name to the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle.

The name change follows the lead of several other Ethical Culture Societies throughout the country to include "Humanist" in the name of their congregation. These congregations are the Ethical Humanist societies in Chicago, Philadelphia, Queens and on Long Island.

"We hope that by including Humanist in our name our congregation will be more readily identifiable to other humanists as a like-minded organization," said Randy Best, leader of the Triangle society.

The Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle remains a member of the American Ethical Union, the national organization comprising Ethical Societies, Ethical Culture Societies and Ethical Humanist Societies, all of which are part of the historical Ethical Culture Movement founded in New York in 1876.

The Triangle congregation meets on Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. at Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliot Road in Chapel Hill.

Mission worker to speak

Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church and Salem Presbytery are sponsoring a visit by Dr. Nuhad Tomeh, a mission co-worker in the Presbyterian Church (USA) who will speak at 7 p.m. today at Evergreen United Methodist Church, 11098 U.S. 15-501 North.

Tomeh is the associate general secretary to the Middle East Council of Churches and is currently serving in Iraq. He is in charge of the Iraq relief and rehabilitation program whose primary mission is to provide supplies and assistance in the schools.

A reception will follow the program. The public is invited to share ideas about the role of Christians in peacemaking in the world.